A new survey has revealed that the Turkish government has transferred some TL 49.4 billion (around $11 billion) to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) from the assets of 1,124 companies seized over their alleged links to the Gülen movement under a crackdown that began following a coup attempt in July 2016.
The survey, conducted by The Arrested Lawyers Initiative, based in Brussels, was published on June 5 on the European Interest website.
The figure did not include 127 people whose assets were also seized and dissolved entities, such as private universities, hospitals and media outlets, which would bring the total to TL 100 billion, the initiative says.
Apart from seized assets, according to the survey, “As of today [June 4], 4100 profit-oriented or non-profit legal entities were dissolved, and their assets were confiscated under decree laws without any judicial procedure.”
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) used government decrees and trustees to confiscate those assets.
“Another aspect of the violation of the right to property is suspending proprietors’ rights by assigning trustees to companies and foundations. [The] Erdogan Regime has been using anti-terror laws for it,” according to the survey.
The government has seized companies including Koza, Boydak, Dumankaya, Akfa, Orkide, Sesli and Naksan that were among the largest 500 firms of Turkey.
According to the survey, the companies were conducting business in every aspect of trade including mining, gasoline distribution, automotives, home textiles, jewelry, pharmacies, hardware, home decor and information technologies.
(Turkish Minute with Stockholm Center for Freedom [SCF])